The Summer of My Life

By Paul Howe

It was a picture-perfect night out—the moon was full, and a warm tropical breeze was gently rustling the palm trees. As we were walking across the parking lot of the Dusit Thani, I felt an extremely overwhelming urge to kiss her, as she looked gorgeous and her perfume smelled heavenly. I gathered every ounce of my courage and gently grabbed her arm and pulled her into me and kissed her. She didn’t seem to resist, and we kissed for several moments, and it felt amazing.
After we broke our embrace, she poised herself, as English people are very proper, and said, “What was that all about?” I was totally embarrassed and began apologizing profusely, saying, “I am so sorry. I apologize. Please forgive me, I should have asked—” when she suddenly grabbed my arm and began kissing me passionately. To hold her in my arms knowing she was the one that wanted to kiss this time had me enthralled as we stood in the middle of the parking lot kissing in the warm, tropical, moonlit night. It was truly magical, an evening I will never forget, a night of all nights.
As we slowly released each other from our second embrace, she said, “I have never been kissed like that.” I was stunned she said that, but I felt the very same way; it sent waves of ecstasy throughout my entire body. I never felt like that before, and it seemed ultramagnetic and so erotically romantic in the moonlight, holding her in my arms and with her tongue and lips passionately kissing me. It was the night of all nights in the summer of my life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886856880

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The Summer of My Life

Paul Howe

ISBN 979-8-88685-687-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-074-7 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88685-688-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Paul Howe

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Life and Career Choices

Preparing for the Trip

The Trip

Arrival in Bangkok

Classes and Getting into a Routine

Hua Hinh

Pattaya

The English Girl

The Night of All Nights

Back to Reality

Back to Pattaya

Bangkok: The Final Days of the Journey

The Love Story Continues

Visit from England

Return to England

Future Plans

The Final Chapter

About the Author

To the English girl I met, fell in love with, adored, and miss so much: Cheryl Clare Goldsmith. Cheryl changed my life by example: she was so loving, caring, compassionate, and full of life, and her inner beauty matched her outer beauty. She gave me the summer of my life and so much more. I was so lucky to be her Patrick.

To my daughter, Brandalyn Star Nicolo, you also changed my life, and I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You are awesome and amazing, and I love you more than anything.

Chapter 1

Life and Career Choices

It was a warm, tropical evening in a faraway exotic land, an idyllic setting, and I had just met a gorgeous young lady who was a former model. The attraction was instant, magnetic, and electrifying. The full moon's glow illuminated our first embrace as we kissed, the palm tree leaves rustling in the light tropical evening breeze. Our lips melted together as we felt our arms wrapped around each other. It was magical and ultimately romantic. It truly was the summer of my life. Then I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Now back to reality.

I still think it is surreal, PhD after my name. When I was thirty years old, I just wanted to go back and finish my associate degree. What happened? I did a year of college after my honorable discharge from the Air Force, but I didn't know what I wanted to do when I grew up. I didn't go back the second year to finish my associate degree and instead got a job where my best friend since kindergarten, Mark, was employed. I worked at Evaporated Metal Films, Inc. for over a decade when Mark and I both realized we hit the glass ceiling. So at thirty years of age, both of us went back to college, Mark pursuing a nursing career.

After finishing my associate degree, I continued to get my bachelor's degree. When I graduated with my bachelor's degree, I wanted to just get a job and start my career as I was married with a family. My department chair, Dr. Marecki, convinced me to continue to get my master's degree two weeks before the start of the fall term. Since I didn't get any job offers the summer after I graduated, I saw that God was opening a window since no doors were opening! After completing my master's degree, I began my career. After several years in the travel and tourism industry, I taught part-time and really enjoyed it and pursued a full-time faculty position. I then realized I needed to obtain my PhD if I were to continue teaching college. One thing I wanted to make sure was that it was just a degree I needed for my teaching career, as I never wanted to be called Dr. Howe, just Paul.

I truly am thankful for my mentors along the way who encouraged me to continue my education. I found out that obtaining goals is not about how smart we are, but about perseverance. I don't regret the hardships endured as I worked full-time and went to college, while also doing the administrative duties at my Scuba facility. The only regret was the time I missed with my daughter. I also learned that timing is everything. The Bible tells us that there is a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1), words of wisdom we just have to have faith in. The Bible also promises us that He will give back the years the locust ate (Joel 2:25), and I found that to be true as once we obtain our goals through our sacrifices, we have more time and more quality of life with our loved ones.

I have had some awesome experiences as a professional in the travel industry, from working for a Caribbean resort chain to being director of education for the largest travel association in the world. I did, however, realize that teaching college was truly my calling. After numerous years of teaching, I had the opportunity to teach for two years for my alma mater, Rochester Institute of Technology, at their campuses in Eastern Europe: Prishtina, Kosovo, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was wonderful to be able to travel, live in another country, and experience their culture—truly enlightening. The students and their parents were so grateful, with their parents inviting us into their homes for dinner. I have stayed in touch with a number of my former students in Kosovo; many went on to get their master's degrees, and one student, Arta, just received her PhD. I miss them all very much as they were such great people.

Now I had the awesome opportunity to teach a couple of graduate courses in Bangkok for the summer! My colleague, Dr. Herb Nold, taught there the previous summer and recommended me to the university. We are buddies as he and I teach full-time together at Polk State College in Lakeland, Florida. Now I keep thinking of the song lyrics One night in Bangkok. I could not wait for this new travel experience to live in yet another country and experience their culture. I am already humbled by this phenomenal opportunity.

Herb relayed his experiences in Bangkok and at the university. He taught all day on Sunday and half-day classes on Tuesday and Thursday. Due to only having a maximum of two days off in a row, his travel experiences in and around Thailand were limited. On a good note, he did go to Pattaya for a weekend with the university for their graduate orientation ceremony, a ritual at Assumption University in Thailand. So I was looking forward to at least one weekend getting out of Bangkok to go to Pattaya for the graduate orientation ceremony.

As Herb expounded on his encounters in Thailand, I was enthralled. He said the food was unbelievably cheap, a true Thai dinner for $3! Herb also said the students revered the professors, the staff at the university was very pleasant, and of course, a Thai massage was only about $8. He told me there was a gym at the Olympic Stadium, near Assumption University's graduate campus, where I could work out at. I was so fortunate that he had blazed the trail before me as it came to my time there.

I was so appreciative that Herb had recommended me to Assumption University, and I was extremely excited when the letter of engagement arrived in my email. I signed it and sent it back immediately and began to check out the flights to arrive several days before the start date of my courses so I could try to get adjusted to the thirteen-hour time difference. Flying back and forth to Europe, when I taught in Kosovo and Croatia, was only a five-hour time difference. While I could get into the time zone in a day when I taught there, a thirteen-hour time difference will be a whole new enigma to figure out. I thought I better give myself at least four days to adjust. So the quest for researching flights from Tampa to Bangkok began. Oh yes, Thailand requires a work visa, so I now have to travel to Miami and go to the Thai consulate to apply for my visa. Since I live in Lakeland, Florida, Miami is only a three-hour drive.

I wanted to plan on stopping in San Francisco on the return trip. I had been there once before and could not get out to see Alcatraz, as they were sold out. I was frustrated to be standing at the wharf looking at The Rock, as it is famously nicknamed, yet could not get out to see it. I also wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, as when I was there years earlier, I drove across it, but the fog was so thick I could only see about fifty feet in any direction. So a few days in San Francisco was in order on my return.

I emailed the Thai consulate in Miami, and they sent me the appropriate forms I needed to fill out. I did, however, have to go to Miami to apply in person. So I planned the trip to Miami. I thought it best to go down late afternoon and stay overnight so I could be there in the morning and set up a ten-o'clock appointment with the consulate. Visitors to Thailand do not need a visa for thirty days or less, but since I was going for over two months and also to teach, I needed to obtain a work visa.

The meeting at the consulate wasn't much of a meeting, I wasn't sure why I couldn't have FedExed the paperwork, my passport, and payment information. They documented my completed forms, took my passport and money, and said they would mail me my passport with the visa. Wow, I came down here for that? I thought but smiled and thanked the lady as I exited her office.

Chapter 2

Preparing for the Trip

The spring term at Polk State College was coming to an end, and I was anxiously anticipating my trip a few days later to Bangkok. I had to make sure all my grades were submitted, as well as begin to prep the two classes I was going to teach online in the summer for Polk State. The great thing about teaching college is that I had taught online for years, and I coined the phrase Have a laptop, will travel! How awesome to be able to work from anywhere in the world as long as you have internet!

I had to pack, so I checked with Herb to see what attire was expected in class at the university. The response was what I expected, but always good to double-check: dress pants and dress shirt or polo shirt, so business casual. Bangkok is similar to our Florida summer weather, so is a bit more laid-back in summer classes. I always like to dress to impress, so I packed a suit, a couple of blazers, and ties. I figure that I will at least look like I know what I am talking about! Since Thailand is tropical, I packed my usual daywear of shorts, sandals, and tank tops. I thought I had also better pack a couple of pairs of dress jeans and nice pullover shirts. Herb said they did laundry at the dorm, and it only cost a couple of dollars and they even fold it or place things on hangers, so don't overpack. I was liking that idea!

I will need my two large suitcases, I thought to myself. I had to pack my workout clothes and sneakers as well as my dress and casual wear. I also had to make sure I had my briefcase with my laptop in it, as well as chargers for my laptop and my phone. I also needed to make sure I had the power converter.

Part of preparing for the trip was to research Thailand, Bangkok, the university, and most importantly, the culture. Having lived and taught abroad, this is a critical aspect as to be culturally correct. When I was preparing to travel to Dubai to teach, I learned that you do not touch a woman in public; even shaking hands was a faux pas. In Thailand, one greets another with the wai (pronounced why), where they place their hands together as in prayer and bow their head. Assumption University is a Catholic college, and I would be at their Bang Kapi campus, which is their graduate campus in Bangkok. They also have a large undergraduate campus, about ten thousand students, across the city.

Terrance, my younger car buddy and like one of the sons I never had, said he would check my mail and keep an eye on my house while I was gone. He lives close by and has the combination to get in my garage. I greatly appreciate him watching things for me and keeping my mailbox from overflowing. He also volunteered to take me to the Tampa airport. I greatly admire him as he is medically retired from the army after fighting for our country in the Middle East.

Chapter 3

The Trip

May 13: time for takeoff. Wow, I cannot believe the time was already here, and the journey begins. I was excited, but I also realized that the flights will take me from Tampa to San Francisco, with a very long layover, then to Seoul, South Korea, with another long layover, then finally to the destination: Bangkok. More than a day and a half of travel, including crossing the international dateline.

Terrance drove me to the airport, my two pieces of luggage in the back of his truck. He asked if I was excited, and I replied, Yes, but not for the long flight. We chatted as Terrance drove the forty minutes to the Tampa Airport. He pulled up to the curb and we unloaded my luggage and we said goodbye. He said he would be on WhatsApp and promised to pick me up when I returned in July. I waved as he pulled away, and I gathered my luggage and went inside the terminal.

I went to the Delta desk, showed them my passport, and they checked me in and tagged my luggage. After proceeding through the TSA checkpoint, I slowly walked to my gate to await boarding my plane. I texted my daughter, Brandalyn, to say to check her WhatsApp for my texts, called my mom to tell her I was on my way and I would call her every Sunday, and called my cousin Johnny, who is like my big brother and is very close to me. I told him we can talk on WhatsApp. Johnny is legally blind, so it is hard for him to see texts on his cell phone.

The announcement came that it was time to board the plane in Tampa. The thought of this new adventure greatly intrigued me, as I love traveling—especially when someone else is paying me to go! The flight to San Francisco was fine, just had a very long layover before the flight to Seoul. I wandered around the international terminal and had a bite to eat and then walked around some more. I was not impressed with the terminal by any stretch of the imagination, looked rather rundown.

Finally, the plane was boarding for my flight from San Francisco to Seoul and I was excited. I was thinking I will not see the United States again for over two months, and I will be in another country with a different culture. I could sleep, I thought, but the reality is that I like seeing all the movies on international flights. The flight was almost thirteen hours in duration, so I can watch three or four movies. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking, Do they have enough fuel to stay in the air for thirteen hours? That fascinates me. The flight was smooth, and the meals were actually very good, as they usually are for international flights. I do like flying Delta, especially internationally. This trip will certainly help rack up some frequent flier miles!

I landed in Seoul around three in the morning, and my flight to Bangkok did not leave until nine o'clock. I was sitting at the gate with only one other person, and I asked if he would mind watching my one briefcase while I went to the restroom, and he agreed. When I returned, he asked if I would reciprocate. Once he came back, we introduced ourselves and we struck up a conversation. His name was Kim, and he was retired, lived in Las Vegas with his son, but spent most of his time in Thailand. He would go over and spend as long as his visa allowed him, then return to Vegas. He stayed in Hua Hin, about three hours south of Bangkok on the western side of the Bay of Thailand. He explained he had an apartment there that he kept, so he could leave his clothing and golf clubs there since it was so reasonable to live there. He also had a truck there. After some time, we exchanged our Line information, which is another good app, so we could stay in touch, and he invited me down. I told him I would really enjoy that, so we agreed to communicate and plan it.

Chapter 4

Arrival in Bangkok

Iwas excited as the plane touched down in Bangkok but exhausted. I couldn't wait to retrieve my luggage and get through customs, as there was supposed to be a van from the university to pick me up. I grabbed my bags and got through customs fairly quickly. I then went to a waiting area where people would meet and greet, but no one was there, no one from the university had a paper with my name on it. I walked outside, no van with the university name on it. They were to have a van waiting for me, though I did not have any phone numbers to call as I was in Thailand now and my phone would not work unless I changed the chip. Oh no, now what? I am in Bangkok with no one to contact! I thought I would email the university and hope they get it quickly and respond. I sent a quick email on my phone to say I was waiting by the door 5, but I did not see the